Air horn

ABSTRACT

A horn which may be sounded selectively by blowing through a mouthpiece or by release of compressed gas. Valve means are provided to control the release of compressed gas and valve means are provided to close the mouthpiece. The two valve means may be independent or may be joined. In the preferred embodiment a button, which when manually depressed opens a valve permitting the compressed gas to escape via the diaphragm and sound the horn, is provided with a central hole communicating to the diaphragm and is shaped like a mouthpiece. The horn may be sounded by blowing into the mouthpiece button to provide a stream of air past the diaphragm and through the horn. By manually depressing the button, the hole therein is automatically sealed.

llnitetl States Patet [19] Wagner Jan. 15, 1974 AIR HORN [76] Inventor:William Wagner, c/o Watsco Inc.,

1800 W. Fourth Ave., Hialeah, Fla. 33010 22 Filed: Aug. 4, 1971 211Appl. No.: 168,821

116/142, 142 PP, l39;46/44, 181, 90,179, 180; 137/221; 251/353;222/402.25, 402.1, 402.17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,942 11/1928 Kubli116/112 UX 1,877,007 9/1932 Meyer 116/106 X 2,918,895 12/1959 Buell116/142 3,244,137 4/1966 Garvey.... 116/106 3,299,960 l/l967 Stern116/112 UX 3,473,557 10/1969 Loe 251/353 X 3,520,368 7/1970 Hayes i116/106 X 3,590,770 7/1971 Wagner 116/112 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 23,908 1905 Great Britain 116/139 427,215 3/1926 Germany116/142 FP Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi Att0rneySamuel J. Stoll eta1.

[57] ABSTRACT A horn which may be sounded selectively by blowing througha mouthpiece or by release of compressed gas. Valve means are providedto control the release of compressed gas and valve means are provided toclose the mouthpiece. The two valve means may be independent or may bejoined.

In the preferred embodiment a button, which when manually depressedopens a valve permitting the compressed gas to escape via the diaphragmand sound the horn, is provided with a central hole communicating to thediaphragm and is shaped like a mouthpiece. The horn may be sounded byblowing into the mouthpiece button to provide a stream of air past thediaphragm and through the horn. By manually depressing the button, thehole therein is automatically sealed.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENTEU JAN 1 5 3. 785. 335

INVENTOR. WILLIAM WAG/v5: R

ATTORNEYS AIR HORN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I Horns powered bycompressed gas are well known.

Referring to the drawing, air horn of the present See, for example,applicants own US. Pat. No. 5 invention comprisesahorn 12includingahousing 14,

3,590,770 which issued July 6, I971. The pressurized propellant iscommonly provided in a container of relatively limited capacity and itis intended that an exhausted container either be replaced or, ifprovision is made therefor, be recharged. Inconvenience and even dangermay occur, however, when no fresh supply of pressurized propellant isavailable when the contents of the container attached to the horn areexhausted.

An example of the danger which may attend loss of pressurization withoutopportunity for replenishment is a mariners fog horn. It is not uncommonfor a mariner to completely deplete his stores of pressurized propellantunder the heavy use to which his fog. horn would be put during periodsof low visibility and it is during such periods that it is dangerous tolose the use of a fog horn. Similarly, horns for signaling purposes arenot available if the pressurized propellant has been completely used andno replacement or replenishment are available. Accordingly, the presentinvention provides a unique air horn which incorporates provision formanual sounding in addition to sounding by pressurized propellant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In conventional pressurized propellant horns,there are valve means manually actuated to control sounding of the horn.Actuation may be a button which when depressed opens a spring-urgedvalve and which when released permits the valve to close. It is animportant feature of the primary embodiment of the present inventionthat such button be provided with a central bore which communicates withthe diaphragm chamber and the horn, permitting use of the button as amouthpiece for manual sounding of the horn. Complete exhaustion of thepressurized propellant results in a horn which may be manually soundedrather than an unusable implement as is the case with prior devices.

Broadly speaking, the invention is of a horn which may be selectivelysounded by compressed gas or by blowing by mouth. In the preferredembodiment the mouthpiece is also the means by which the compressed gasis controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of the air hornof the present invention showing the container for the pressurizedpropellant and the horn coupled in the conventional manner.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the horn and container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken across line 3-3 of FIG.2 and showing the container partially broken away to disclose itscontent.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing the actuatingbutton depressed and the container valve open. In this configuration andwith pressurized propellant in the container the horn is sounding.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the container valve shown inits closed position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the valve in itsopen position and schematically showing gas flow out of the container bymeans of arrows.

a pressurized container 16 removably coupled to housing 14, and valvemeans 18 functionally located between horn l2 and container 16.

Horn 12 includes a vibrating diaphragm 20 located in accordance with thestandard practice at the input or reduced diameter end of horn l2.Vibration of diaphragm 20 is induced by a high velocity gas flowgenerated between the diaphragm and the adjacent small open end of thehorn by a source of pressure. Diaphragm 20 forms a sealed chamber 22 inconjunction with a portion of housing 14 on the side of diaphragm 20opposite horn 12. The sealed chamber provides rebounding compressionagainst diaphragm 20 as the diaphragm is forced into the chamber by thehigh velocity gas flow. The diaphragm is thus provided with a bouncewhich, provides diaphragm vibration in conjunction with the gas flowwhich induces pressure variations in the gas flow out of the horn. Withproper tuning, which is provided during manufacture of the horn, thefrequency of those pressure variations occur in the audible range andare amplified by the horn.

Valve means 18 is a reverse spring-loaded check valve in which a valve24 is spring-urged by spring 26 into sealing engagement with seat 28.Manual lifting of valve 24 away from its seat 28 provides an openingthrough which a gas may pass. It should be clearly understood, however,that any suitable valve means may be used. The valve means justdescribed is that which is commonly used in disposable containers ofpressurized propellant which are sold in uniform sizes convenient foruse and which are intended to be disposed of when exhausted and notrefilled.

In the conventional valve means disclosed herein the valve mechanism isconnected to container 16 by a collar 30 which incor-porates a retainingmember 32 for spring 26. Valve seat 28 is held in position by the closedtop of upstanding cylindrical extension 34 of collar 30. The valve 24 isa sealing disk which may be flanged to hold spring 26 in position. Thecentral portion of seat 28 and the adjacent top of cylindrical extension34 are provided with co-axial holes forming a passageway 36. Valve 24circumferentially seals passageway 36 when closed against seat 28. Ahole is provided in retaining member 32 such that there is communicationand an escape path from the interior of the container through hole 38and out of passageway 36 when valve 24 is open. Cylindrical extension 34is conventionally provided with external threads and housing 14 isprovided with an internally threaded coupling 40 such that container 16may easily be screwed on and off horn 12. A gasket 43 is provided toprevent the escape of pressurized gas between the container at the topof cylindrical Actuation of valve means 18 is provided by a button 50which is slidably secured to housing 14 and which is provided with anextension 52 which extends from button 50 to valve 24 and which issubstantially coaxial with movement of valve 24. Manual depressing ofbutton 50 pushes valve 24 away from seat 28 and opens the valve to aflow of gas. Releasing button 50 permits spring 26 to close the valveand in doing so it raises button 50 to the original position. Valve 24may be cupped to engage the ends of button extension 52 withoutslippage. In order to extend from button 50 to valve 24, buttonextension 52 passes through coupling hole 42 and passageway 36.

It is an important feature of the invention that button 50 is providedwith a bore 54 which extends from the top of button 50 to chamber 46 byway of port 54a into which button 50 extends. There is accordingly anopening between chamber 46 and the outside of born 10.

Operation of air born may now be described. Placing a finger on the topof button 50 and depressing the button opens valve 24 and permits thepressurized propellant in container 16 to generate an air flow intochamber 46 and out of the horn past diaphragm 20. The presence of thefinger on the button closes bore 54 and seals chamber 46 therebypreventing unwanted escape of the pressurized propellant through thebore. Should, however, there no longer be any pressure left in container16, it is the purpose of the invention to permit the generation ofpressure in chamber 46 and consequently air flows past diaphragm and outof the horn by simply placing ones mouth around button 50 and forciblyblowing through bore 54 into chamber 46. The horn will now sound asthough the pressure emanated from counter 16.

For comfort and convenience of operation, button 50 may have its topformed concavely inwardly to provide a convenient seat for a finger.This promotes correct yet rapid placement of the finger directly overbore 54 to provide adequate sealing of the bore during pressurizedcontainer operation of the horn. Button 50 is further shaped to form aconvenient and comfortable mouthpiece having a flange 56 with smoothlyrounded edges to provide ease of use with full sealing of the lipsaround the button.

Bore 54 communicates with chamber 46 at all times regardless of whetheror not button 50 is depressed. This permits manual use of the born byblowing into the button without the necessity for depressing the buttonand consequently releasing of any residual pressure which mayinadvertently be left in container 16.

To promote ease of use during the manual blowing operation, it isdesirable to provide a diaphragm which is relatively resilient so thatadequately loud sounding of the horn may be provided with moderate andreasonable lung pressure.

While the foregoing is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is clear that other embodiments may be had within theteachings hereof. For example, any valve means may be utilized inconjunction with any mouthpiece which communicates with chamber 46provided that there are means to seal the mouthpiece while the valve isopen. In the preferred embodiment as described, there is shown a uniquemethod of combining actuation of the valve with sealing of themouthpiece but it is understood that the invention is intended toencompass other such combinations. Further, the source of compressed gasmay be a bellows, pump or the like.

I claim:

1. An air horn, comprising:

a. a horn;

b. diaphragm means, said diaphragm means being located adjacent theinput end of said horn and being sufficiently responsive to lung airpressure to sound said horn thereby;

c. a source of compressed gas;

d. flow control means, said flow control means connected between saidsource of compressed gas and said diaphragm and said horn to control theflow of the gas through, and sounding of, said horn;

e. a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a bore communicating with saiddiaphragm and said horn such that blowing through said mouthpiece soundsthe horn, said bore being manually closable; and

f. actuating means, said actuating means being connected between saidmouthpiece and said flow control means, said flow control means beingactuated thereby.

2. An air horn in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. said flow control means comprises valve means;

b. said mouthpiece and said actuating means being movable, saidactuating means being connected to said valve means to actuate the sameand thereby control the flow of compressed gas through, and sounding of,said horn.

3. An air horn in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said mouthpiece comprises a button, said button being connected to saidactuating means to actuate said valve means.

4. An air horn in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said valve means comprise a valve member springurged into normallyclosed engagement with a valve seat, said valve means being openable bypressure exerted on said valve member in a direction away from saidseat.

5. An air horn in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said actuating means comprises an extension of said button, saidextension extending between said button and said valve member wherebymovement of said button correspondingly moves said extension and saidvalve member.

6. An air horn in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said valve seat is provided with a central passageway through which saidextension passes.

7. An air horn adapted to be sounded by a source of compressed gas andby blowing by mouth, comprising:

a. a horn;

b. a source of compressed gas;

c. flow control and mouthpiece means, said flow control and mouthpiecemeans connected between said source of compressed gas and said horn andcontrolling the flow of compressed gas to said horn, said flow controland mouthpiece means having a bore in communication with said horn fororal use,

d. whereby said horn may be sounded by said compressed gas or by mouthby selective use of said flow control and mouthpiece means.

8. An air horn comprising;

a. a horn having b. a vibratory diaphragm,

c. a closed air chamber on one side of the diaphragm,

d. an open air chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm, and

e. a source of compressed gas in communication with said open airchamber,

f. said diaphragm being exposed to both air chambers and beingsufficiently responsive to compressed gas pressure and to mouth-blownair pressure in the open air chamber to produce a horn sound,

g. flow control means being provided between the source of compressedgas and the open air chamber to control the flow of compressed gas intosaid open air chamber,

h. said flow control means comprising a normally closed valve andactuating means therefor,

i. said actuating means including a push-button which is pressed to openthe valve andwhich is released to close the valve,

j. said pushbutton having an opening formed therein which communicateswith said open air chamber, and being adapted to be held to the mouth sothat air might be blown into said open air chamber,

k. said opening being located where it would be digitally closed whenthe pushbutton is digitally actuated to open the valve,

. whereby digital actuation of the pushbutton causes the valve to openand the horn to sound by reason of compressed gas impinging upon thediaphragm, and

m. whereby blowing air by mouth into the opening of said pushbutton,without actuating same to open the valve, causes the horn to sound byreason of mouth-blown air impinging upon said diaphragm.

1. An air horn, comprising: a. a horn; b. diaphragm means, saiddiaphragm means being located adjacent the input end of said horn andbeing sufficiently responsive to lung air pressure to sound said hornthereby; c. a source of compressed gas; d. flow control means, said flowcontrol means connected between said source of compressed gas and saiddiaphragm and said horn to control the flow of the gas through, andsounding of, Said horn; e. a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a borecommunicating with said diaphragm and said horn such that blowingthrough said mouthpiece sounds the horn, said bore being manuallyclosable; and f. actuating means, said actuating means being connectedbetween said mouthpiece and said flow control means, said flow controlmeans being actuated thereby.
 2. An air horn in accordance with claim 1,wherein: a. said flow control means comprises valve means; b. saidmouthpiece and said actuating means being movable, said actuating meansbeing connected to said valve means to actuate the same and therebycontrol the flow of compressed gas through, and sounding of, said horn.3. An air horn in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said mouthpiececomprises a button, said button being connected to said actuating meansto actuate said valve means.
 4. An air horn in accordance with claim 3wherein: said valve means comprise a valve member spring-urged intonormally closed engagement with a valve seat, said valve means beingopenable by pressure exerted on said valve member in a direction awayfrom said seat.
 5. An air horn in accordance with claim 4, wherein: saidactuating means comprises an extension of said button, said extensionextending between said button and said valve member whereby movement ofsaid button correspondingly moves said extension and said valve member.6. An air horn in accordance with claim 5, wherein: said valve seat isprovided with a central passageway through which said extension passes.7. An air horn adapted to be sounded by a source of compressed gas andby blowing by mouth, comprising: a. a horn; b. a source of compressedgas; c. flow control and mouthpiece means, said flow control andmouthpiece means connected between said source of compressed gas andsaid horn and controlling the flow of compressed gas to said horn, saidflow control and mouthpiece means having a bore in communication withsaid horn for oral use, d. whereby said horn may be sounded by saidcompressed gas or by mouth by selective use of said flow control andmouthpiece means.
 8. An air horn comprising; a. a horn having b. avibratory diaphragm, c. a closed air chamber on one side of thediaphragm, d. an open air chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm,and e. a source of compressed gas in communication with said open airchamber, f. said diaphragm being exposed to both air chambers and beingsufficiently responsive to compressed gas pressure and to mouth-blownair pressure in the open air chamber to produce a horn sound, g. flowcontrol means being provided between the source of compressed gas andthe open air chamber to control the flow of compressed gas into saidopen air chamber, h. said flow control means comprising a normallyclosed valve and actuating means therefor, i. said actuating meansincluding a push-button which is pressed to open the valve and which isreleased to close the valve, j. said pushbutton having an opening formedtherein which communicates with said open air chamber, and being adaptedto be held to the mouth so that air might be blown into said open airchamber, k. said opening being located where it would be digitallyclosed when the pushbutton is digitally actuated to open the valve, l.whereby digital actuation of the pushbutton causes the valve to open andthe horn to sound by reason of compressed gas impinging upon thediaphragm, and m. whereby blowing air by mouth into the opening of saidpushbutton, without actuating same to open the valve, causes the horn tosound by reason of mouth-blown air impinging upon said diaphragm.